Category: weekly meme

This has been a long week! It’s been a better week than last week, but it’s still long. I think it’s a combination of being the end of the school year (and the kids going crazy) and being nervous about the field trip we’re taking on Friday. When we get there, it’ll be fine, but until then, it’s one long week of anxiety building up.

I’m currently reading F is for Fugitiveby Sue Grafton. You may notice that, once again, I’m not reading either of the two books I said I was going to read for the past two weeks, but I have a really good reason. I’m trying to save a little money and be more mindful of what I buy, and I couldn’t justify either of the purchases, even on Kindle. So, I went to the library, instead. I checked out four or five books and have been working my way through them. I actually went again yesterday and got a bunch more books, so I’m all set for awhile.

Now, do I want to be reading any of these books? Kind of, but not really. What I want to read is Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, which is the sequels to Clockwork Angel. However, despite the second book supposedly being at the library, it wasn’t on the shelf, and the third is not at my library but at the one I’ve never been to. And the far away library that I sometimes go to also doesn’t have them in. And neither library has them on Overdrive, and the third library I belong to, I can’t remember my pin. So… I may have to buy them this weekend, even though I’m trying to save money and spend more intentionally and…. Well. I want to intentionally buy the books to intentionally make me happy (even though, from what I understand, this series is going to break my heart). So, that’s okay, right?

It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for Top 5 Tuesday! Yay! Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm. Each week, she posts a new topic and gives us all a chance to respond. This week’s topic is Top 5 “unputdownable” reads.

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. When I was in seventh grade, I had finished all my books and my work in English class. Having nothing to read, I must have complained, because a boy in my group handed me this book. I was only able to read the first chapter before the period ended and he had to take it back (it wasn’t his book), but the damage was done. This book was like drugs to me: I couldn’t think for the rest of the day and I was addicted for life. I mean, I’ve always been a Star Wars fan, but this book took it to a whole new level. I don’t think I thought of anything but Star Wars for the next two years, when the trilogy was finally over. I definitely couldn’t put it down.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I was always a kid who liked to be prepared, so when I knew I was going to have to read this book the next year for English class, I decided to get a head start. I had an old, beat up copy of my nana’s (which has since completely fallen apart) and I started reading. I read for most of the hot summer evening, well into the night sitting on the tile floor of the kitchen in front of the back door. I was fascinated by Scout and her brother, by Boo Radley and everything that was happening. I could not put the book down.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Shortly after this book came out, I went to the book store determined to find a book with the following criteria: YA, dystopian, and about a girl. But, I couldn’t get into this at first. Still, it was the book I took with me to Disneyland/DCA when my family and I went to see World of Color. We were taking a break in the shade and I decided to put it out. Four hours later, the lights went down so the show could start and I had to put the book away. I missed all the singing, games, and performing of the preshow just so I could keep reading this book because I was so enthralled.

Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I am honestly embarrassed to include this on my list because I didn’t really think the book was that great, but I could not put it down. I got it for free at ComicCon one year and I started reading it and could tell it wasn’t my taste, but there wasn’t much going on that day. Any time my sister and I sat down, I’d pull it out and start reading. I read the whole thing in bits and pieces throughout the day, the entire time lamenting the fact I couldn’t stop because it was so over the top silly. To this day, all I can remember is the main character feeds her romantic interest penis-shaped pasta and that he, at one points, sucks garlic butter off her breast. I won’t say this book was bad, because a) I know the series is wildly popular and scratches an id and b) it wasn’t badly written. I tried to read others in the series, but could never get into them. But this, for that day, was glued to my hand.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Yes, it’s taken me years and years to read. But I finally did and couldn’t put it down. When I saw its size, I thought it might take me three or four days to get through. But then, I got home from work yesterday, pulled it out, and read way past my bedtime. I didn’t want to put it down and I was dying to see how it ended. Despite my initial reservations, it was a very fun read and very unputdownable.

What are some books that you’ve had a hard time putting down? Drop a comment below and let me know!

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by the Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and things you’ve received. The rules are here: The Sunday Post.

This was just a difficult week all around. It started with migraines on Monday, an anxiety attack that made my hands go numb on Tuesday, and just a general sense of blah and exhaustion the rest of the week. I’m not enjoying a book I got from NetGalley, and while I don’t want to DNF it because I want to be nice and review it…. I also really, really don’t want to keep reading it. Luckily, a trip to the library helped turn my reading week around and I got some books I’m really enjoying. Also, with any luck, next week will be much better and I’ll get things back on track.

It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for Top 5 Tuesday! Yay! Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm. Each week, she posts a new topic and gives us all a chance to respond. This week’s topic is Top 5 Magical Creatures.

This is honestly so, so hard for me. I’m not really into very many magical creatures. At first, I was going to just list my top five characters who happen to be magical, but it ended up being just a bunch of vampires and Puck. And I don’t think that’s what this topic is about. So, in the spirit of trying, here I go.

Vampires I love vampires. Ever since I saw Buffy the Vampire -the movie, mind you, not the show–I’ve been obsessed. The beauty, the violence, the seduction, the intrigue, I love it all. I prefer vampires that are soulful, but there are some soulless vampires who have a soft spot in my heart. I like them to be humanish and have some sort of code, whether it be moral, immoral, or ammoral. I like them to be witty and clever and very seductive. They just aren’t any fun if they’re not. My top 5 favorite vampires are: Louis, Armand, Lord Akeldama, Spike, and Dracula (but only from Fred Saberhagen’s Dracula Tape)

Fairies. I’ve always enjoyed fairies in things, but I didn’t really fall in love with them until Gargoyles did episodes revolving around Puck, Oberon, and Titania. Puck was always going to be right up my alley, because he’s a trickster, and the whole series of episodes had me running to my Complete Works of William Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I became obsessed with that play. I’ve since enjoyed fairies in other things, like Ella Enchanted and Spindle’s End, but my go-to is always the fairies from Shakespeare.

Werewolves. Okay, here’s the thing: I’m not a huge fan of werewolves as a magical creature. But there are werewolves that I like. Remus Lupin is one of my favorite characters from Harry Potter. I love Professor Lyall and Biffy from the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger. I loved Oz from Buffy (which I know isn’t a book, but…) So, while I’m not really there for pack dynamics, shifting, were-guilt, or whatever, I like individuals well enough to give them third place.

Mermaids. I don’t think I’ve ever actually read a book about meremaids, except maybe Peter Pan, but I’m a swimmer and the idea fascinates me.

Elves. I mean, I guess I like elves. I’ve written elf AU fanfic before. They seem interesting? I’m kind of out of ideas.

Those are my top five magical creatures.

What kind of magical creatures do you like? Drop me a comment below and let me know!

I’m so glad it’s Wednesday. It’s been a good week, but I’m glad it’s halfway done. This weekend, I get to go see The Lightning Thief musical, which I didn’t think I was going to get to do (I’m still not sure because I’m having trouble with my ticket; I’ll need to follow up on that). I’m super excited because I’ve heard good things about it. And I love going to see musicals in general. So, yeah, I’m halfway to that!

King of Fools by Amanda Foody follows the further misadventures of Enne Salta and Levi Glaisyer, whom we met in Ace of Shades. Levi and Enne are plunged into the world of political intrigue. They must work together to help influence the fate of New Reynes. So far, it’s pretty good. I still prefer to read about Enne over Levi, but he’s not completely uninteresting. It’s just that I find her more interesting.

Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi. I really liked this book. The new characters were well written and interesting, if a little frustrating at times. The quest Aru and Mini were sent on was fun, and the villain, once again, had intriguing hidden depths. I like that they bad guys aren’t one dimensional in these books, but have inner lives and histories of their own. It makes them much more compelling.

I’m also listening to The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown. This isn’t really a book. It’s actually a recording of a series of lectures she gave at a conference on vulnerability and shame. It goes over a lot of the same information that The Gifts of Imperfection did, but it’s really interesting and she’s a great speaker. I almost don’t want to stop listening.

Next, I’m either going to read Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy or Treacherous is the Night by Ana Lee Huber. I’ve been wanting to read them both. Maybe I will read them both!

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for another Top 5 list! Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm. Each week, she posts a new topic and gives us all a chance to respond. This week’s topic is Top 5 Books I Want to Reread.

The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffman. Lately, I’ve been thinking about this series a lot. Maybe it’s because I like to mention AIDAN any chance I get, and I feel like I’ve been talking about it a lot lately (which, I’m not sure if I have, but I feel like it). Or maybe because I started reading the books around this time last year and am feeling nostalgic. Whatever the reason, I’ve been seriously thinking about doing a reread of these books.

I’ve also been thinking about reread Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice again. It’s been years since I read it, and I’ve been hankering for a reread. I don’t actually own the book anymore, but found it when I was browsing a used bookstore. I was going to buy it, until I realize they were charging the cover price for a used book! I mean, I know $7 isn’t that much, but the spine was cracked a little and the cover was a little worn and it was a used book! Used books should be cheaper, right? The nerve of them. So, I ended up not buying it, but was left with the desire to reread it.

On a similar theme, I want to rereadThe Queen of the Damned. I loved this book when I read it in high school. I thought it was amazing. I loved the backstory of where the vampires came from, I loved the story of Armand and Daniel, I loved the humans and the vampires and what Akasha did to the vampires. It was such a great read. But I think I only read it one or twice. I’d like to give it another read through and see if I like it as much now as I did then.

The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw. This amazing book is about a woman named Charis who wants to be a doctor in 4th century AD. She disguises herself as a eunuch and runs away to Alexandria to train. It’s a really fascinating story that’s completely enthralling. I happened upon it by chance in the library, thought it sounded interesting, and fell completely in love. The problem is, I can’t find it anymore at the library and it’s not in print. I’m so sad because I desperately want to reread it and have no way to do so.

Last, I want to reread the last 3 books in the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. I’ve read the first two multiple times, bu the last three only once. I remember really liking them a lot, and would like to revisit the story. I vaguely remember a few things I really liked, mostly involving the vampires, but there’s a werewolf love story that starts in either Blameless or Heartless that I really like and would like to read again from the beginning.

So, technically that’s more than five books, because of the two series that I threw in, but I think that’s fine. I hope I’ll get around to rereading at least some of them. There just always seems to be so many new things to read, I don’t get to reread as much as I’d like.

What books do you want to reread? Drop a comment below and let me know!

I’m currently reading An American Duchess by Caroline Fyffe. It reminds me a little of Downton Abbey in that an heir dies and they have to search for the new heir. Only this one is the son of the duke, thought to be illegitimate but it turns out he’s not. When he finds out he’s going to be the new duke, he marries his new love in a whirlwind and they swan off to England so he can assume his responsibilities. There’s also a girl named Charlotte, who works in the village bakery but takes over as a scullery maid when her cousin falls ill. It’s interesting and I’m enjoying it so far.

Play it Again by Aidan Wayne is about a popular YouTuber named Dovid who starts following a gamer on Youtube named Sam. Dovid promotes Sam’s channel on his, and Sam’s popularity soars. They being exchanging DMs, which eventually leads to a relationship. It was a cute book, but without much substance or depth. It felt very safe and superficial. My full review will be up Thursday.

Next, I’m going to read Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi. I just reread the first book, and I am ready to the next. I love the characters, I love that it centers around girls, and I love learning about new gods and goddesses. It’s a win all around.

What are your reading plans for the upcoming week? Drop a comment below to let me know!